Model sailing ship

ABSTRACT

A model sailing ship having an improved keel is disclosed. The keel has a downwardly extending section attached to the hull and a horizontally extending section attached to the downwardly extending section and the keel is positioned so that the center of pressure of the wind acting on the ship is in a forward position in relation to the center of pressure of the water acting on the ship. The keel has particular application for model ships of small scale, especially miniaturized ships.

United States Patent 1191 1111 Heath Mar. 18, 1975 MODEL SAILING SHIP [76] Inventor: Desmond Heath, 1230 Park Ave., W Bhx New York N Y 10028 Assistant Exammer-Stuart M. Goldstem Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrumbaugh, Graves, [221 Filed: Jan. 4, 1973 Donohue & Raymond [21] App]. No.: 320,986

52 us. c1 46/93, 114/140 [571 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl A63h 23/02 [58] Field 61 Search 114/140, 141, 138, 139, A mdel salmg havmg mpwved f 1' 114l126 46/93 243 MV closed. The keel has a downwardly extending section attached to the hull and a horizontally extending sec- [56] References Cited tion attached to the downwardly extending section and the keel is positioned so that the center of pres- UNITED STATES PATENTS sure of the wind acting on the ship is in a forward po- 599,097 2/1898 Fa1rbrass 114/139 sition in relation to the Center f pressure Of the water 8041493 11/1905 Palmer Pi g acting on the ship. The keel has particular application gggzsa ai for model ships of small scale, especially miniaturized 3:381,648 5/1968 Vonck 114/141 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 114/139 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATEHTED HAR l 8i875 FIG.

FIG. 3

1 MODEL SAILING SHIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The improvement disclosed herein relates to an improved keel for model sailing ships which provides significant advantages and benefits for the sailing of model ships over keels and model ships known today.

Model sailing ships are generally designed similar to full size sailing ships. The hull, sails, rigging, rudder and keel designs are substantially scale models of the corresponding parts of full size ships. In full size sailing ships, there is a relatively heavy, deeply extending keel amidship with a rudder at the stern that the helmsman adjusts manually in relation to the wind. Numerous model ships have been built which have tried to simulate the keel and rudder design and operation on a reduced scale. In these models, heavily weighted keels are positioned amidships and mechanisms of varying sophistication to adjust and steer the rudder are provided; but these attempts have not achieved satisfactory results. Many of the various rudder mechanisms and keel combinations fail to hold a good course for the model sailing ship. Often, the ships end up going around in circles in the middle of the pond or lake where it is difficult to retrieve them. Also, such ships have a tendency to capsize or swamp in high winds. With these ships, sailing is difficult and frustrating for both parent and child.

Only with very sophisticated rudder mechanisms and very deep heavily weighted keels, both of which are expensive, are model sailing ships capable of sailing satisfactorily. Also, such ships usually are significant in size (on the order of 2 3 feet) due to the hardware and equipment necessary for the complex steering mechanisms and also due to the necessity of providing sufficient weight and structure to support a heavy keel. The difficulties in handling, storing and displaying such large model ships make them impractical, however, and they also are relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems of stability and course holding ability by the use of the unique keel and weight distribution for model sailing ships. A relatively long, heavy keel with a downwardly extending portion attached to the ship aft of amidships and with at least a horizontally extending portion attached thereto, achieves the necessary stability and course holding ability for the ships. Preferably, the keel is J, C, or L shaped. The invention is particularly useful for miniature sailing ships on the order of six to twelve inches long.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be more effectively understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an improved model sailing ship;

FIG. 2 illustrates the view of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2; and

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the improved sailing ship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred form of the improved model ship invention. The ship has a hull 11, a deck 9, one or more sails 12 attached to the upper surface (deck) of the hull, a rudder l3, and a keel 15. The keel 15 is attached to the bottom of the hull 11, preferably near or at the rearmost point of the hull.

It is understood that the present invention is applicable to any type of model sailing ship and the ship shown in the drawings is only illustrative. Any ship which has its sails set to sail downwind can be utilized, such as viking ships, clipper ships, galleons, Chinese junks, ancient Egyptian, and the like.

The keel 15 comprises a downwardly extending section 16 and a horizontally extending section 17. The sections 16 and 17 can be two separate pieces of material connected and secured together by any conventional manner, or the keel 15 can be all one piece of material. The keel 15 can be L, J or C shaped, provided that the downwardly extending section 16 is broad to give lateral water resistance and the forwardly extending section 17 is deep and heavy. Preferably, the keel 15 is L shaped.

The materials for the ship 10 can be of any conventional type. The hull l1, rudder l3, and masts for the sails 12 can be made of wood, hard plastic, polystyrene, or the like. The sails 12 can be made of paper (coated or uncoated), cloth, plastic, or the like. The keel 15 can be made of metal, wood, plastic, or the like, but preferably is made of metal. If the keel 15 is made of metal, it should be coated or painted with a rust-preventing material in order to minimize possible rusting.

The surface are of the above-water profile of the ship 10 has a point at which the force of the wind can be viewed as acting upon it. This point is called the wind center of pressure and is designated by point A in FIG. 1.

Also, the ship has a point at which the force of the water can be viewed as acting upon it. That point is called the water center of pressure and is the point at which a force acting upon it would push the ship 10 sideways through the water. Point B in FIG. 1 represents the water center of pressure.

In order to insure that a model ship without an adjustable or compensating rudder mechanism sails downwind and does not tend to sail in circles," the wind center of pressure A must be in a position well forward of the water center of pressure B. In this manner, the wind hitting the ship 10 will automatically turn or swing the bow of the ship 10 in the direction of the wind (downwind) and sail it in that direction.

The keel 15 is comprised of sections 16 and 17, and is positioned on the ship 10 so that the wind center of pressure A will be in front of the water center of pressure B. The keel 15 also provides improved operational and directional stability.

Section 16 is broad and flat in order to provide lateral water resistance and maintain point B behind point A.

Further, sections 16 and 17 of the keel are comprised and positioned so that the total center of gravity of the ship 10 (hull, sails and keel) is well below the surface of the water for improved stability, particularly in the rolling plane. In FIG. 1, the center of gravity is denoted by CG and is approximately at the position indicated. The downwardly extending section 16 is of sufficient length toposition the heavier horizontally extending section 17 well below the water surface. The bottom of section 17 is approximately the same distance below the surface of the water as the top of the sails 12 are above it. The weight of the section 17 and the width of its area perpendicular to the surface of the water also are factors influencing the position of the center of gravity of the ship and the ships resulting stability.

The longer the descending portion 16 of the keel 15, the lighter the weight of the forwardly extending portion 17 needs to be. The long lever effect of the weighted keel is important particularly in ships of miniaturized scale which by necessity must be as light as possible. Also, the keel may be of disproportionate length on a miniaturized-scale size because the draft of the ship is relatively unimportant.

The horizontally extending section 17 also balances the ship 10 in the pitching plane. The weight of the section 16 of the keel 15 tends to raise the nose of the ship 10 and the section 17 should be of sufficient weight and length to counter this and restore the equilibrium of the ship. The addition of a plate 14 attached to section 17 and at right angles thereto (see FIG. 2) also aids in stabilizing the ship 10 during sailing.

When the model ship is stored between launchings, a slotted stand (not shown) into which the lower section 17 of the keel 15 can be slid enables the ship to be stored, displayed and viewed relatively easily. If the ship. 10 has a plate 14 attached to the bottom of section 17, then the plate itself can be used as a stand for this purpose.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention which can be used indoors as well as outdoors. Sections 16 and 17 of the keel 15 are adapted to be rotated and folded to a position immediately under the hull 11 (shown in dotted lines 1617'). A spring or friction latch secures the folded keel in position. Although sections 16 and 17 are shown being rotatable by means of pins 18 and 19, it is understood that any conventional means of adapting the keel to make it fold into position l617' can be utilized.

The present invention also facilitates ease of launching and beaching model ships. Since the center of gravity (CG) is positioned forward of section 16 of the keel 15, the ship 10 will balance itself on a rod or stick resting simultaneously against the hull l1 and section 16.

The invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, but it is understood that numerous modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art. Any such modifications and changes are included with the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A model sailing ship comprising a hull, at least one sail and a keel, the ship having a water center of pres sure and a wind center of pressure, the hull having a deck, the keel being substantially L-shaped with a downwardly extending section attached to the rear of the bottom of the hull and a horizontally extending section attached to the bottom of the downwardly extending section and extending forward toward the bow of the ship, the wind center of pressure being positioned forward of the water center of pressure and the bottom of the keel being substantially the same distance below the deck as the top of the sail is above the deck, whereby increased stability is afforded for the model ship.

2. A model sailing ship as defined in claim 1 wherein the two sections of the keel are adapted to be folded and secured in a position adjacent the bottom of the hull.

3. A model sailing ship as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plate attached to the horizontally extending section of the keel to improve the stability of the ship.

4. A model sailing ship comprising a hull, at least one sail and a keel, the ship having a water center of pressure and a wind center of pressure, the hull having a deck, the keel being substantially L-shaped with a downwardly extending section attached to the rear of the bottom of the hull and a horizontally extending section attached to the bottom of the downwardly extending section and extending forward toward the bow of the ship, the wind center of pressure being positioned forward of the water center of pressure and the bottom of the keel is at least the same distance below the hull as the top of the sail is above the hull, whereby increased stability is afforded for the model ship.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,371,127

DA E Mar. 18, 1975 INVENTORtS) Desmond Heath It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, line 28, "are" should read --area-; and

Col. 4, line 3, "with" should read -within-.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of Ma 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. A model sailing ship comprising a hull, at least one sail and a keel, the ship having a water center of pressure and a wind center of pressure, the hull having a deck, the keel being substantially L-shaped with a downwardly extending section attached to the rear of the bottom of the hull and a horizontally extending section attached to the bottom of the downwardly extending section and extending forward toward the bow of the ship, the wind center of pressure being positioned forward of the water center of pressure and the bottom of the keel being substantially the same distance below the deck as the top of the sail is above the deck, whereby increased stability is afforded for the model ship.
 2. A model sailing ship as defined in claim 1 wherein the two sections of the keel are adapted to be folded and secured in a position adjacent the bottom of the hull.
 3. A model sailing ship as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plate attached to the horizontally extending section of the keel to improve the stability of the ship.
 4. A model sailing ship comprising a hull, at least one sail and a keel, the ship having a water center of pressure and a wind center of pressure, the hull having a deck, the keel being substantially L-shaped with a downwardly extending section attached to the rear of the bottom of the hull and a horizontally extending section attached to the bottom of the downwardly extending section and extending forward toward the bow of the ship, the wind center of pressure being positioned forward of the water center of pressure and the bottom of the keel is at least the same distance below the hull as the top of the sail is above the hull, whereby increased stability is afforded for the model ship. 